The learning field trips were the best part – I especially enjoyed experiencing and learning about a couple of the rare remnant prairies that we have in the area – Parkhill Prairie and Clymer Meadow were two of my favorites.
STT 63
Our Tribe’s Fortune – Ruby: 4,000 Hours – Tom Shackelford
Focus not so much on the moment, but for all time. Accept our responsibility to do our share, sometimes more, and put back into nature a portion of what we have taken from it.
Monarch View Park: Progress Report on the H-E-B Pollinator Grant – Insights from Project Leader Laura Kuwayama
A vibrant native habitat is truly taking shape at Monarch View Park! This dream is becoming a reality thanks to the incredible collaboration of Blackland Prairie Chapter Project Lead, Laura Kuwayama, the City of Frisco Parks department, dedicated local volunteers, the North American Telugu Society (NATS), and the Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists. With vital support from an H-E-B Pollinator Grant, Monarch Park now has a beautiful array of native species like Little Bluestem, Baptisia australis, and Wild Bergamot. These efforts are creating a crucial space for pollinators to thrive right here in Frisco!
My Favorite Things through the Four Seasons: Spring
John W. Garbutt- Class of 2019- It was near the end of February when my sister brought up the imminent arrival of Barn Swallows. Usually the first migrant, the avian harbinger of spring arrives in early March. A couple of years previous, I had seen my first one on the last day of February. It was a day or two later that my sister had the same experience with a February Barn Swallow.
Our Tribe’s Fortune – 2500 Hours – Bryon Clark, Class of 2019
Life is way too short not to have fun! Find the projects that you enjoy so your enthusiasm will create moments that inspire awe, curiosity, and stewardship of our natural world.
Rooted in Paulette: The First Books & Blooms Library Blooms at Green Gardens
Mary Abercrombie, Class of 2020 – Books & Blooms, a new passive engagement program that reimagines Little Free Libraries as vibrant community touchpoints for ecological literacy and neighborhood beauty.
Our very first Books & Blooms installation is now blooming at the Green Gardens of McKinney at Gabe Nesbitt Park, and we couldn’t have asked for a better partner to bring this pilot to life than Paulette Platko, local artist, garden steward, and Texas Master Naturalist with the Blackland Prairie Chapter.
Plano Park – July Updates from Project Leader Jean Higgins
One primary focus has been the removal of privet (Ligustrum spp.), an aggressive non-native shrub that threatens native plant diversity and degrades habitat for wildlife. With support from Plano Parks and Recreation, our volunteers have been able to expand efforts. Plano has provided valuable assistance with follow-up herbicide treatments in cut areas and has been a true partner in helping us reach long-term restoration goals.
The Heard Museum needs Pre-School Storytime Readers!
The Heard Museum would like to expand its storytime to every Friday morning at ten. This is for pre-schoolers. At present it is only on the second and fourth Fridays. If you would like to read to a group of little kids whose eyes get big and whose verbage is priceless.
McKinney Green Gardens Workday: A Community Success!
The McKinney Green Gardens restoration project, a Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists (BPTMN)- approved project and a Chapter grant recipient, experienced a highly successful workday on July 5th.
Leading the charge were two dedicated BPTMN members: Mary Abercrombie, who also works with the City of McKinney Office of Sustainability, and Paulette Platko.
Our Tribe’s Fortune 250 Hours – Deanna Flanagan, Class of 2024
Deanna Flanagan achieved her 250 service hour milestone as a Master Naturalist, inspired by her mother’s dedication. She earned these hours by assisting the Class of 2025 and leading engaging field trips for first and third graders at the Holifield Outdoor Learning Center.